Category: News

A 20-YEAER-OLD man involved in burglaries in which € 11,000 in cash and jewellery was stolen from homes in Shannon this year has escaped a prison sentence.

Jamie Considine was warned he could be still be sent to jail if he stepped out of line over the next few months. At Ennis District Court on Wednesday, Mr Considine pleaded guilty to his role in eight burglaries that occurred in the Tullyglass, Inis Sioda, Tullyvarraga and Dun Na Óir areas of Shannon between January 11 and March 22.

Mr Considine, with an address at The Magnet, O’Donoghue Avenue, Janesboro, Limerick, was one of a group of people who broke into the unoccupied family homes.

The court heard Mr Considine did not enter all of the houses but acted as a lookout on some occasions. He was paid in drugs for his role in the offences, the court heard.

The court heard the items taken from the houses included large sums of cash, valuable pieces of jewelry and commemorative medals.

Insp Michael Gallagher said the owners returned to find their homes ransacked. Judge Patrick Durcan said he reluctantly accepted jurisdiction.

Defence solicitor Daragh Hassett said his client had indicated he would be pleading guilty at an early stage. He said Mr Considine, who has now moved to Ballybunion, fully cooperated with gardaí and has no previous convictions.

The court heard that at the time the offences were committed, Mr Considine was abusing cannabis, cocaine, heroin and Xanax.

Mr Hassett said his client has abided by strict bail conditions and his efforts and commitment to give up drugs has impressed the Probation Services. Judge Durcan said a 12-month prison sentence would send out the message that burglaries would not be tolerated.

Asked for his views on the crimes, Insp Gallagher said eight families had suffered the ordeal of these burglaries. “I know if it happened to me, I’d hate to see them walk free,” he added. Judge Durcan adjourned sentencing for a brief period. When the case was re-called, Judge Durcan said he was going to remand Mr Considine on continuing bail, subject to conditions outlined by the Probation Services, to appear again in court on March 12, 2014.

The State were granted liberty to re-enter the cases at 24 hours notice.

“If you step out of line between now and March, everything comes back,” Judge Durcan warned. Mr Considine thanked Judge Durcan for giving him a chance.

A SENIOR garda has voiced his concerns after a violent feud flared to life inside an Ennis courtroom last week. Three men from the Ennis area had been ordered to pay compensation to a victim of criminal damage when one of the men demanded to be sent to jail instead.

“You can send me to jail, Judge. I won’t give her 10 cents. You can put me in jail now,” he said.

“She’s only put fuel in the fire. The feud’s only starting now”, he told the female victim.

Judge William Earley was passing sentence at Ennis District Court on Thursday after finding three men guilty of attacking a car while a religious ceremony was underway in Drumcliffe graveyard in March.

Judge Earley said it seemed to be the case that the woman who owned the car was a “victim of one of these wretched family feuds that are all too common in the Traveller community”. The violent attack may have been sparked by an ongoing feud between two Traveller families. The woman was not involved in the dispute, the court was told. Insults and abuse were hurled at the mother of two at the end of the hearing. A 41-year-old woman was arrested and charged for allegedly provoking a breach of the peace. Gardaí also had to be called to deal with disturbances that erupted outside the Courthouse.

Inspector Michael Gallagher, the prosecutor in the case, said he had never witnessed such scenes in a courtroom. Speaking afterwards, he said, “In my 30 years with the gardaí, I’ve never seen anything or heard anything like that. ”

A VICIOUS stabbing that left an Ennis woman in a critical condition has caused “tremendous difficulties” for the young victim, a court has heard.

Nicole Keane (23) was stabbed 22 times by her then friend Charlene Sherlock (23) during a frenzied assault in the grounds of the Holy Family Primary School in Ennis on April 13.

Ms Sherlock, with an address at Dromard, Lahinch Road, Ennis, attacked Ms Keane because she believed Ms Keane had been unfaithful to her then boyfriend Brendan Sherlock (20), who is Ms Sherlock’s brother. Ms Keane suffered slash and stab wounds to her neck, face and torso. She was rushed to hospital and received life-saving treatment in Cork. The horrific attack carried out by Ms Sherlock was captured on CCTV shown at Ennis Circuit Criminal Court last Monday.

Ms Keane was not present in court and declined to give a victim impact statement. Two days later Ms Keane, with an address at Bridge View, Roslevan, appeared at Ennis District Court where her solicitor outlined some of the effect the assault has had.

Ennis-based solicitor William Cahir said, “She was the victim of an unprovoked attack and it has set her back. It has caused tremendous difficulties for her,” he added.

Mr Cahir was speaking in court after Ms Keane pleaded guilty to two public order offences at the Summerhill area of Ennis on September 16, 2013. Inspector Michael Gallagher told the court gardaí received a call to go Summerhill.

He said they found Ms Keane and another person sitting on the ground drunk. The court heard Ms Keane was verbally abusive to gardaí.

Mr Cahir explained his client has been “a very bad alcoholic” since she was a teenager.

“More often than not she has been unable to conquer her demons,” he added. Mr Cahir said he was not offering Ms Keane’s problems as an excuse for her behaviour on September 16. Mr Cahir said his client would be a suitable candidate for community work. Judge Patrick Durcan said he had sympathy for Ms Keane.

He added, “Well done, Ms Keane, that you did live and you didn’t die. That’s the reality, you now know how close it is, the step between living and dying.”

Imposing a 120-hour community service order, Judge Durcan said, “It is not acceptable for someone to sit on the ground and tell gardaí to get lost.”

A DIRECTOR of a Kerry-based bus company has been fined in relation to an oil spill that led to multiple accidents and major tailbacks on the Limerick to Galway motorway earlier this year.

At Ennis District Court on Thursday, Patrick Kennedy, a Director of Kennedy Coaches, Main Street, Annascaul, Kerry, recived a € 250 fine.

Mr Kennedy denied a charge of having his coach in such a condition that would have rendered the vehicle dangerous to the public.

The charge arose from an incident that occurred on the motorway on February 1, 2013.

The driver of a Mercedes Benz bus bringing students from Tralee to Galway pulled over near Hurler’s Cross after noticing the oil spill.

He immediately contacted the owner who contacted Shannon gardaí, the court heard. The two-mile long slick shut the motorway and forced Gardaí to close a 10km stretch of road resulting in massive tailbacks.

There were five accidents as a result with one person injured. The oil slick occurred on the day of the Waterford Crystal hurling match between Clare and Cork. Many of the Cork players were delayed getting to the game in Sixmilebridge. Throw in was delayed by an hour for the match that Clare won.

Judge Earley convicted Mr Kennedy after PSV Inspector Garda Brendan Condon said the coach was not in good overall condition prior to the incident because of a serious defect in relation to its fuel tank that would have rendered the vehicle dangerous to the public.

Garda Condon told the court a bracket used to hold up the one of the fuel tanks had been fractured.

Judge Earley said that he accepts that Mr Kennedy “is a conscientious businessman and did his best to mitigate the difficulties that the defect in his coach caused”.

The judge said that he accepted there were substantial mitigating factors. The court heard the bus passed a safety test nine weeks prior to the incident.

The defect in the fuel tank was also subject of a recall by Mercedes Benz. In evidence Mr Kennedy told the court that he never received the letter informing him of the recall in September 2010.

CLARE resident Gerry Harrison last night spilled the beans on his time with the greatest band that ever lived. Gerry, who founded Banner Books in Ennistymon, was the assistant director of the legendary Beatles’ 1967 film ‘Magical Mystery Tour’.

During filming, Gerry struck up a friendship with both John Lennon and Paul McCartney and would go on to work with both men even after the break up of the Beatles.

In addition to working on ‘Magical Mystery Tour’, Gerry also worked on ‘London Town’, ‘Venus and Mars’ and ‘Mull of Kintyre’ with Paul McCartney and he spent a week working on the film of ‘Imagine’ with John Lennon.

“It was a great time. I am very much part of that sex and drugs and rock and roll generation. We lived in Notting Hill, which was the height of hip London at that time,” he said.

“Down the road was Island Records, in the next street there was Van Morrison and the band that played in the local church was called Pink Floyd.”

Gerry first worked with the Beatles on the filming of the ‘Magical Mystery Tour’, the first project completed by the Fab Four after the death of the manager Brian Epstein.

“There was no script so I was worried from the beginning. My job involved planning ahead, on extras and locations. I had to ask Paul McCarthy for a script on the first day and they found something for me.

“But what was interesting was the concept, which was illustrated as a circle by Paul McCarthy. At that time Paul was basically in charge because Brian Epstein had just died. It was a sort-of a Buddhist wheel of life and Paul put in different scenes at different places around the wheel.

“Every day of filming was mystery, but it wasn’t very magical. It was hard work in many cases. This [the film] derived from the whole concept of taking a ‘trip’ and the whole LSD thing was very important.

“I think the film was largely a reinaction [or actual experience that the Beatles had]. I remember the rehearsed lines. There was a scene between Paul and [Welsh actor] Victor Spinetti, that was the most structured part of the whole movie. The rest really was a mystery.”

A full feature interview about Gerry and his time with the Beatles will appear in next week’s Clare People . Gerry spoke about his time with the Beatles at Trinity College last night.

A SUB group of the Regional Drug Taskforce has been established to tackle a heroin problem in the town of Kilrush, as experts try to ascertain if there is a serious deep-rooted problem in the West Clare town.

Gardaí in Kilrush, in conjunction with the National Drugs Unit, have been tackling the supply issue with a special five-month undercover operation spanning the end of last year and the first quarter of this year.

A total of 1,400 Garda man-hours were used in the investigation and sting that resulted in at least eight arrests that have come before the courts so far. The Clare People has learnt that a special “drop-in clinic” for drug addicts was opened in the town eight weeks ago, to deal with the sociocriminal problem that has taken hold for the last year.

Regional drugs coordinator with the HSE Rory Keane said a heroin issue in a town of this size is usually attributed to a social-economic issue and supply.

Last week three of those arrested in the Garda drug ‘sting’ were sentenced in the District Court.

Meanwhile Mr Keane said the health service has been aware of a problem in the town for the last year. He added that a specialist team made up of the HSE Drug and Alcohol Service, Mid Western Regional Task Force, Bushy Park and the Community Substance Misuse Team, were now working in the town to examine the general drug issues including heroin.

The special drop-in clinic will close in the next few weeks and the body will regroup to assess the situation.

“It has been a concern for the last 12 months that there does seem to be a pocket of heroin use in Kilrush that would not be on other parts of the county,” said the drugs specialist.

“Availability would be an issue. The other concerns would be social-economic factors and issues of unemployment, motivation and poverty.

“A drug problem might come up centred around a few individuals or a supply issue in a rural area,” he explained adding that the concern in Kilrush was the problem was established for longer than would be expected in a town of its size.

“It is too early yet to say if it is a deep-rooted problem or a long-term episodic issue. We are not in a position to predict what will happen,” he said.

“My sense from talking to people is it is definitely a social and economic issue here,” said Mr Keane adding that it is no coincident that you see an increase in drug use at times of economic difficulties.

“There is a strong link between poverty and heroin. One of the challenges facing us is that it does leak across life and affects all facets of life.”

In Kilrush court last week one father told how he found his son in a “place” where drug addict go “to shoot up and smoke” not too far away from the court house.

Kilrush District Court Judge, Patrick Durcan described the amount of damage being done by heroin to Kilrush as “horrific”.

He asked that local businesses be vigilant and ensure it is not easily sold on their premises or car parks.

DETAILS of the HSE’s application were outlined at Ennis District Court on Wednesday where the boy appeared on assault and criminal damage charges arising out of an alleged incident in East Clare on November 6. A HSE social care worker told the court the HSE had been forced to look outside the jurisdiction for a secure place because of the waiting list that exists in Ireland.

The woman said an application will be made to the High Court and the authorities in Scotland have been notified of the placement.

It is proposed that the boy will stay in St Mary’s for a total of four months, which will comprise a threemonth secure placement and one month step down placement.

A Scottish Government Child Safety and Wellbeing report on the costs of secure accommodation show the average cost per secure bed per week at St Mary’s during 2011-12 was £5,160, ranging from £5,060 to £5,410. The estimated cost of the teenager’s stay in the unit could be € 61,920. The court heard that another troubled teenager from Dublin is also staying in the unit. The social worker told the court the HSE would pay the cost of the placement.

In response to questions from Judge Patrick Durcan, the woman said she did not have the cost of placing the boy in secure accommodation in Scotland.

Judge Durcan asked the cost of the placement be given to the Court Services.

Judge Durcan said he was “not happy” about the application but said that the HSE hare the statutory body with responsibility for child welfare.

The court heard the boy is being placed in a secure unit as it gives him the best chance of transitioning to a stable life in adulthood. The woman said the boy is looking forward to going to Scotland. The court heard the boy had been living with his wheelchair bound uncle as his father is in prison.

St Mary’s is a secure unit that accommodates 24 children. According to its website, it has a variety of recreational facilities including a sevenaside Astroturf pitch, gymnasium, fitness suite and swimming pool. In 2008, the unit was the scene of violent riot that resulted in £200,000 worth of damage. The teen’s cases were adjourned to Killaloe District Court on May 6. The Clare People submitted a number of questions to the HSE but no response had been received at time of going to print.

A LARGE crowd turned out in Dublin on Saturday to support eight-yearold Clonlara boy Ronan Woodhouse in his protest walk from Primary Care Reimbursement Service (PCRS) offices on Finglas to the Dáil.

Ronan, who has down syndrome as well as 13 other related illnesses, lost his discretionary medical card earlier this year and despite a review of his case, the HSE has refused to grant his card.

Ronan’s mother, Noreen Keane, handed in letters of protest at the PCRS offices and at the Dáil, but Taoiseach Enda Kenny (FG), had no representative at the Dáil on Saturday to receive the letter.

According to Noreen, the cost of medication, therapy and doctor visits for Ronan costs an average of € 2,300 per month. She says that the removal of her son’s medical card is putting his life at risk.

“Ronan walked about four miles of the protest himself, which was great going. I had contacted all the members of the Oireachtas an the Taoiseach but no one was there to meet us,” said Noreen.

“We have another meeting with the HSE on Friday and we will see what comes out of that. Whatever happens, I won’t be giving up this campaign – I can’t afford to do it. It’s not just Ronan either, we were joined by a number of parents in the same position on Saturday whose cards have also been taken.

“I’m only meeting the HSE on Friday on the condition that the medical card is up for discussion. They have paid so much lip service to this – the HSE and the Government – there is no point in them meeting us if the medical card is not up for discussion.”

Following the walk on Saturday both the National Association of General Practitioners (NAGP) and the Irish College of General Practitioners (ICGP) have released statement supporting people who have lost their discretionary medical card.

“I have to keep going with this campaign, the only way that seems to get their attention is to embarrass them into listening. So that’s what I’m going to have to do. I’m going to shame them into it,” said Noreen.

“It is astounding that I have to exploit my child and my child’s illness to get them to listen. Something is wrong with that. That is not something that I do comfortable but how else am I going to make them listen.”

A DISTRICT court judge told a young defendant before him at Kilrush District Court that he could assist others and society if he was willing to publicise photos of life in a house drug addicts use to shoot up and smoke.

Mitchell Walsh, 20 St Patrick’s Terrace, Kilrush, pleaded guilty to 15 charges following a “crime spree” dating from March to mid October.

The court heard that the 19 year-old who did not have a criminal record prior to 2013, “had physical and mental inflictions” and began to self medicate by turning to drugs, eventually ending up on the streets before being rescued by his family.

The father of the defendant Martin Walsh said his son needed to be taken into hand. “He was going to die and that was the truth of it,” he said.

Mr Walsh Snr said the family were devastated by what had happened, and had attempted to pay for all the damage to the cars of the people of the town where they live.

“You just can’t leave someone like that behind especially when it is your own son. I think a lot of this was because Mitchell could not manage his surgery,” he said referring to a colostomy bag the young man had fitted following stomach surgery.

The concerned father said his son went to the street to get “medication”.

Mr Walsh (Snr) then presented two photos to Judge Patrick Durcan, depicting family life with Mitchell before addiction and life on the streets.

“There is a place not far from here where they go in and smoke heroin and shoot up and we went in there and took photos to show you,” he said. “There are a lot more in there than Mitchell.”

The father told the court that the situation was tough on all his family.

“There was times when I had to go and rub blood off this child because he self harmed,” he said.

Mr Walsh (Jnr) pleaded guilty to all charges including using threatening and abusive behaviour in Francis Street Kilrush on June 3, 2013, being in possession of a knife at Hector Street Kilrush on June 28 and being intoxicated in a public place on August 15, 2013.

Earlier that month on August 2, he was again arrested and charged for breaching the peace in Moyasta Kilrush, and on March 31 he was arrested for driving unaccompanied under a learners permit.

He also pleaded guilty to slashing the tires on five different vehicles parked on Toler Street, Kilrush, on the night of June 27 to June 28, 2013. One tyre in two vehicles were damaged and two tyres each on three vehicles.

At an unknown date from October 11, 2013, to October 12, 2013, Mr Walsh again slashed a tyre on five cars on Wood Road, Kilrush. He also pleaded guilty to slashing six tyres on three different cars on St Senan’s Terace on October 12, 2013. Continued on page 8

CLONLARA woman Noreen Keane, says she is “shocked and disappointed” following comments made by the Taoiseach, Enda Kenny (FG), in the Dáil last week. The Fine Gael leader denied ever agreeing to meet with Noreen, whose son Ronan suffers from down syndrome and whose discretionary medical card has been taken from him earlier this year.

Noreen and her son Ronan, staged a protest outside a Fine Gael event attended by the Taoiseach in Limerick last month. At that meeting Fine Gael officials told the Clonlara woman that she would be granted a meeting with Enda Kenny.

However, responding to questions from Fianna Fail leader Micheál Martin in the Dáil last week, Deputy Kenny denied agreeing to a meeting. Both Noreen and Ronan took part in a protest walk in Dublin on Saturday to highlight the loss of Ronan’s medical card.

“You [Micheál Martin] mentioned that political gathering that the Fine Gael party had down in Limerick. Nobody told me that the person involved wanted to meet me. I spoke to several people on the way in there. That is not the issue. The issue is, you were right to ask a question about two children and a walk that is taking place about the loss of their discretionary medical card,” said An Taoiseach.

“There is no change in the policy. Nobody is entitled to a medical card automatically. Issues like income and discretion come in after that.”

Deputy Kenny was responding to a question raised by Fianna Fail leader Micheál Martin regarding Clonlara boy Ronan Woodhouse and Cork girl Katie Connolly, who also took part in the walk.

“In relation to this specific case. They [Ronan and Noreen] were offered a long-term illness card but many of the conditions don’t qualify under a long-term illness card. If you, or someone else met these people you could sort this out,” said Deputy Martin.

“The reality is that there has been a change of policy. My people cant understand you getting up here every day and saying that there has not been a change of policy.”